Most annoying part of all this, I had a spare slip ring, which I changed out, lengthy process, and did not solve the issue. Phoned my friend who used to own an e36 back in the day, he pointed me to this fix, and would you believe it he was 100% spot on with his suggestion. Wish I had called him before hand now!!!

Change of plan .....Just been outside with a torch and a can of GT85 .........
I am out in the morning early in the Z, so I can see if that has the desired effect.
Easiest preventative job so far on the Z though .......

This is very timely advice. My steering wheel squeak started up in Scotland last September. The car had been parked outside all week and it had been a cold night. My Z is normally pampered in a warm garage so I put it down to this. However it has got worse and more persistent and only seems to happen when turning the steering wheel from the 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock positions. Is this the same as everyone else's? This will save me taking the steering wheel apart. It does improve as the car warms up though.

BeemerBoyo wrote:This is very timely advice. My steering wheel squeak started up in Scotland last September. The car had been parked outside all week and it had been a cold night. My Z is normally pampered in a warm garage so I put it down to this. However it has got worse and more persistent and only seems to happen when turning the steering wheel from the 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock positions. Is this the same as everyone else's? This will save me taking the steering wheel apart. It does improve as the car warms up though.

I am afraid the answer is no! Gave both couplings a really good dousing in the GT85 and worked the steering back and forth for a few minutes - no change at all.

My issue must be something inside the steering wheel assembly itself.

my noise is not quite a squeak, its more like a graunch and only happens in a specific place on the steering wheel rotation. As the car heats up, in particular if the heating is on, the noise improves or goes so something must be expanding with the heat (well that's my theory so far )

Going to CITP today and then away overseas for a week so wont get another chance to look at this for a couple of weeks.

BeemerBoyo wrote:I am afraid the answer is no! Gave both couplings a really good dousing in the GT85 and worked the steering back and forth for a few minutes - no change at all.

My issue must be something inside the steering wheel assembly itself.

my noise is not quite a squeak, its more like a graunch and only happens in a specific place on the steering wheel rotation. As the car heats up, in particular if the heating is on, the noise improves or goes so something must be expanding with the heat (well that's my theory so far )

Going to CITP today and then away overseas for a week so wont get another chance to look at this for a couple of weeks.

Thanks for the insight into this. If you have the part number for the item you have I will check on BMW fans against my chassis number. Is your spare new/how much do you want/where are you in the UK can collect?

I had my slip-ring apart while hunting down a steering wheel squeak. My squeak sounded more like a spring being wound too tight and sure enough it was the lower spring and bearing described earlier. Access to this is much harder on the S54. However, I managed to get a finger of grease down there and work it into the spring. Repeating this a couple of times between turns of the steering and its all quiet now. Lucky really since I purchased the replacements parts for the lower bearing, but was dreading the job to change them. I have read that some people drill a small hole inside at the bottom of the outer tube of the steering column. Apparently you can squirt spray grease or drip some oil in through the hole.

Initially I did lubricate the slip-ring. I used an aerosol of dry film lubricant/PTFE for the inside and some ceramic cream on the outside. Now that is also quiet as a mouse.

Looking on BMW fans I can see the slip ring assembly for my 2.2 M54 being 32 30 2229 488. Is the spring part of this or something else? Have looked at the upper column mechanics too but unsure of which part it could be.

Just to finally close this off I had my BMW Independent take a look at this while in for service and MOT. The whole slip ring had unwound itself, had fallen apart and was Cream Crackered so a new one had to be fitted.

Charged £120 for the part plus 1/2 hours labour (£25.00) so I don't think that was too bad at all, looking at the prices on-line this is a very good price so not sure if it was aftermarket or OEM fitted.

Not bothered, the problem has now gone.

AW Autoworks in Teesside Industrial estate, Thornaby did the work.

Top guys, they have maintained the car since I got it back in 2014.

Highly recommended, ex-BMW time served mechanics from Preston Hall BMW now with their own business.

An easier way to oil/grease the lower steering bearing and spring is to remove the trim panel directly below the steering wheel. You will see the outer steering tube in which the steering shaft travels. Drill a small hole in the outer tube which allows you to squirt oil or grease into the shaft tube and it naturally runs down onto the bearing. Just cover the hole over with some duct tape or similar.